ILOILO CITY, Philippines — It wasn’t just another day in Iloilo. Something was different. A current of pure compassion, of real community spirit, was pulsing right through the city. At the heart of it? Physicians for Peace Philippines, driven by the vision of its Chairman, Dr. Josephine Bundoc, M.D., and the operational direction of COO Ms. Lyne Abanilla. They championed a crucial mission: the Community Hearing Healthcare with Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities, bolstered by free Community X-rays all generously sponsored by Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council Inc. (PJMCC) ably represented by former PJMCC President, Capt. Emmanuel Regio and Capt. Banny Briones. This was more than a medical mission; it was an ambitious effort to restore health, yes, but more deeply, to construct a fountain of hope proving that everyone deserves to be well.
Such an undertaking wasn’t possible alone. It blossomed from a powerful collaboration, a true convergence of hearts and hands. It was a true alliance. Physicians for Peace Philippines. PJMCC, The Philippine Red Cross–Iloilo. Starkey Foundation. Quota Club Iloilo. Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo of D3850, Walk and Work Foundation, and Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. All locked in. This coalition assembled the cavalry: ENT doctors, nurses, audiologists, yes. But also, a legion of tireless volunteers and passionate advocates. One goal drove every single one of them. To get to Iloilo’s most underserved, the people who needed them most.
A Day of Healing and Empowerment
The project was held at the St. Martin’s Court, Assumption Iloilo, Gen Luna St., Iloilo City, wherein the venue was made possible with the ample support of Quota Club Iloilo and of course, Assumption Colleges of Iloilo. After a warm prayer and words of heartfelt gratitude from the organizers, you really got to take in the room. It was decked out in bright colors, but the banners were what really struck you. They carried the “why” of the whole event. Physicians for Peace Philippines had theirs: “Teach One, Heal Many.” Starkey’s was just as powerful: “So the World May Hear.” You realized these sentiments were the real fuel for the mission. They were the heart and soul of helping people hear again, move again, and finally live a life with greater independence
The program hit on two massive fronts: sound and movement. On one side, a team handled free ear examinations, otoscopies, and life-changing hearing aid fittings. On the other hand, a full-blown mobility drive. They distributed not just standard wheelchairs but crucial specialized ones for folks with complex needs, like cerebral palsy, alongside other essential mobility aids. Running this entire operation? Doctors, nurses, audiologists, allied health professionals… a whole volunteer team, all working together, absolutely seamlessly. They moved like a single unit. It was this incredibly focused effort. No cookie-cutter treatments. Just giving every single person the exact care their situation demanded. By the day’s end, the impact was clear: hundreds of Iloilo residents, from every walk of life and every age group, had their unique needs met.
Multiple stories were told, numerous backgrounds were witnessed, the foundations came together, and they heard the echoes of those in need from the community. One notable moment is where we witnessed two patients who so happen to be twins both deaf and mute who came in the gymnasium with a frown on their face but came out the hearing services section with a smile on their face, emphasizing that their newly fitted hearing aids were the best thing that has happened to them today and is inspired to do well in their academics now with their newfound support.
I have to say, the teacher and parents… they were incredible. Just the warmest, most supportive people. But another moment hit just as hard. Sister Iris Clark. A sister, right there at the college. Paralysis from a back injury years ago. She was provided with a new wheelchair. Not just any chair, but one that fit her perfectly. She explained her old one was done. It had lasted years, but its time was up. You could just see the relief. She was more than delighted; she was truly, deeply blessed by this new chair.
Reaching the Unheard
You have to understand, for so many patients, this mission was it. The very first time they’d ever had access to real hearing healthcare. Thanks to the powerhouse partnership with Starkey Hearing Foundation, people weren’t just getting screened; they were getting custom-fit hearing aids.
The result? Sound. For people who had lived in silence for years. The room was just… charged. Tears and smiles, all tangled together. That was the scene. People were hearing their loved ones. Clearly. Truly. For the first time in years. In this powerful, raw moment was the exact point Ms. Lyne Abanilla made her opening remarks. It’s the human proof of why inclusive, sustainable healthcare isn’t just important. It’s everything.
“Our goal is not just to provide medical aid but to empower people. To give them the tools to live fuller lives. Hearing and mobility are basic human needs that connect us to the world, and today, we’re making those connections possible,” she said.
Extending Hands of Hope
Meanwhile, the “how” of the mission was a masterclass in collaboration. The Philippine Red Cross Iloilo Chapter was the nerve center for the ground game. They managed the flow, all the crucial logistics, all the patient coordination. And they did it with this amazing mix of genuine care and total efficiency.
But here’s the key: they didn’t just show up blind. They came with a plan. A list of names, of real people who had been waiting, just hoping, for this exact chance to be seen. And the Quota Club Iloilo and the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo were the operational engine. They rallied the volunteers and took care of other logistics. They did all that crucial, tireless work of connecting with local partners and government units, making sure all the moving parts actually came together. And holding it all up, the financial backbone for the entire operation, were the sponsors from the PJMCC, whose kind and generous donations made it all possible.
Physicians for Peace Philippines, known for its various outreach programs such as Walking Free (for amputees), Seeing Clearly (for vision care), and Women’s Health Missions, continues to extend medical aid to marginalized groups across the country. This latest mission in Iloilo adds another chapter to their ongoing effort to build healthier, more inclusive communities.
Voices of Gratitude
The beneficiaries said everything. It was in the eyes of the elderly, the smiles of the children, and the visible relief of the PWDs. This was no polite “thank you.” This was real. You could feel it. A deep, profound gratitude. They understood this wasn’t just a handout. This was life-changing care. And they knew it.
One recipient, finally settled into a new wheelchair, put it this way:
“For years, I struggled to move around on my own. Now, I can go outside and see my neighbors again. This means freedom for me.”
Another patient fitted with a hearing aid said tearfully,
“I can finally hear my grandchildren call me ‘Lola’ again.”
Even patients with severe cerebral palsy cases were accounted for with specialized wheelchairs fit to their size and proportions that even came with a foldable desk on the wheelchair itself, so that basic functions such as eating were not a hindrance to the patient. One specific family had a child with severe cerebral palsy and another son with mild autism, but that son was her sister’s primary caregiver, the father of the family stated.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to receive a wheelchair for my daughter and my son. She promises to continue caring for his sister and work hard regardless of his condition as well.”
These sentiments from the patients are what drive foundations to continue serving communities with the goal of providing basic necessities to everyone, regardless of who they are.
A Model of Collective Service
This medical mission just stood as a beautiful testament to what’s possible when people truly lock arms for one reason. That partnership… Physicians for Peace, Starkey, PJMCC, Quota Club Iloilo, RC Metro Iloilo, and the Red Cross… That was a perfect demonstration of how working together just works. It’s how you reach more people, how you make a bigger splash, how you spark real hope. All the foundations kept emphasizing it: this was a team win. That shared purpose was everything.
And as the day finally wound down, that hall, which had been so quiet, was just buzzing. Laughter. People talking. This incredible spark of hope. It just hammered home the point, really: healing is so much more than medicine. It’s connection. It’s compassion. It’s community.
Over 200 availed of “Linis Tenga”, 110 benefitted or received hearing aids, a few were families of Seamen, 40 units of wheelchairs were given, and other mobility devices like canes, walkers, white canes for the blind, and crutches.